The Urban Transformation of Mesopotamian Cities

Abstract

Architecture and urban design have undergone profound transformations due to various factors, including economic, political, religious, cultural, and environmental influences. These transformations reflect human development and intellectual evolution. Studying these transformations provides a key to understanding the history of civilizations, their development, and their interaction with their surroundings, serving as a mirror that blends rich heritage with contemporary challenges. There is a lack of clarity regarding the transformations in urban design across different historical periods, as well as the reasons and factors influencing these changes. This study aims to establish a mechanism for tracking these transformations over time and identifying the factors that influence them. The research hypothesizes that multiple factors drive urban design to evolve from one form to another over time. The study adopts a combined approach, integrating historical, descriptive, and comparative analytical methods. The research concludes that urban design transformations are not driven by a single factor but by the interaction of multiple elements, primarily environmental, economic, cultural, and political factors. These factors have shaped urban structures throughout history, reflecting societies' ability to grow and adapt. The transformations observed in cities are continuous and progressive, often involving modifications to the overall form, expansions, or additions over time while maintaining the core elements of the city. This pattern has been followed since the city of Ur, except for Seleucia, where the transformation was abrupt due to the adoption of the Hippodamian planning and division system.